Buckle



R. B. CLAGGETT.

BUCKLE APPLICATION FILED MAYIG, 1919.

1,364,544. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

OFFICE.

ROBERT B. GLAGGETT, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4:, 1921.

Application filed May 16, 1919. Serial No. 297,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. OLAGGETT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles.

Buckles are devices widely known, and extensively used for fastening, they usually consist of a metal frame having a central cross bar to which a tongue is pivotally attached, it being of such length that the point thereof rests upon the forward bar of the frame. In service the end of a strap is secured to the cross bar, and the end of another strap, or other end of the same strap, is passed under the front bar and the tongue engaged in a hole provided therein for the purpose, the end is then tucked under the rear bar, between it and'the strap. To release the strap, the loose end thereof is drawn back over the front bar, or toe, of the buckle and tension exerted on it to draw the hole ofi the tongue, the tongue raised with the fingers, and the strap released. The tension on the strap tends to hold the tongue down rendering it very difiicult to raise, especially if the strap is stifi, or the fin ers chilled.

n object of this invention is to provide a buckle so constructed that the tongue may be released without the use of the fingers.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the scope of the claim appended hereunto.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate like parts in the several views: Figure 1, is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention shown as joining two straps: Fig. 2, a similar View showing the manner in which the tongue is freed: Fig. 3, a detached perspective view of the front portion of the buckle: Fig. 4, a similar view of the rear portionof the buckle and Fig. 5 a perspective view of the buckle assembled.

The improved buckle comprises two parts, a rear, or heel, portion 10 and a front, or toe, portion -11 the two being pivotally connected. The heel portion is preferably a rectangular frame, comprising side members 12 which are connected by transverse bars l3 and 1 1. A tongue 15 projects from the outer edge of one of the transverse bars as 13, being integral therewith, and extends upward at an angle to the plane of the frame. It is obvious that a plurality of tongues may be employed if desired. The toe portion comprises a substantially U shaped part, comprising a cross bar 16 and connected parallel side mem bers 17- extended substantially at right angles therefrom. The side members terminating in eyes, or loops, 18 which are engaged around the front bar, 13, of the heel member, from which the tongue extends, the arrangement being such that the point of the tongue rests upon the cross bar 16. In service, a strap 19- is connected with the center 13, in any usual, or suitable manner, and an end of a stra 20 is passed under the bar 16, up through the toe of the buckle, and the tongue engaged therewith, as in the conventional form. To disengage the strap, tension is exerted on the loose end 21 as usual, then it is only necessary to exert pressure on the bar 14, of the heel of the buckle, the depression where of will raise the tongue, as it is integral therewith, clear of the strap, as shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the tension on the strap is released, the toe can be swung away from the tongue so that it will offer no obstacle to the withdrawal of the strap, or accidentally catching in a hole.

Having thus described my invention so that any one can make and use the same, I claim In a buckle, a heel portion comprising a rectangular frame consisting of front and rear bars joined by side members and having a rigid tongue extended from the front bar at an angle to the plane of the frame, a strap aflixed by one end to the said front bar and underlying the rear bar, a toe portion comprising a substantially U shaped member pivotally connected to the front bar of the heel portion and adapted to receive the free end of the strap to be engaged with the tongue, the engagement being such that the front bar of the heel portion is freely rotatable by operation of the exposed rear bar to release the tongue regardless of tension on the strap.

ROBERT B. CLAGGETT. 

